Republican U.S. Senate Primary in Michigan Deadlocked

Two Michigan Republicans are in a tight race to win the U.S. Senate Primary which will be held on August 7.

“If the Aug. 7 primary election were held today, John James of Farmington Hills would get 39% of the vote and Sandy Pensler of Grosse Pointe would get 38%, according to the poll conducted by EPIC-MRA of Lansing for the Free Press and its media partners,” wrote the Detroit Free Press.

Both men have backgrounds in business and are fighting for the opportunity to unseat incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Neither candidate has a perfect conservative record, but it seems that the misgivings of Pensler are more forgivable.

James has been hitting Pensler for supporting pro-choice causes more than 20 years, when Pensler’s son was born and he switched his position on the issue.

On the other hand, James made a $500 donation to Detroit City Council member Raquel Castañeda-López, who has been described by Pensler as a “a leftist pro-choice candidate who wants to make Detroit a sanctuary city.” James has also been endorsed by the pro-amnesty Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re feeling really confident that Sandy’s message of replacing Debbie Stabenow, a 43-year career politician, with a successful conservative businessman and political outsider is resonating with Republican voters,” said Pensler’s spokesman Tom Shields.

James, an Iraq war veteran and West Point graduate is highlighting his career as an Army serviceman.

“Of those surveyed, 31% had a favorable opinion of James and 24% had an unfavorable one. Another 45% said they had never heard of James, or had no opinion,” the paper reported. “For Pensler, 29% of those surveyed had a favorable opinion and 27% had an unfavorable one. Another 44% had never heard of Pensler, or had no opinion.”